London - England, United Kingdom

I got up this morning and went out to Buckingham Palace with plans to see the changing of the guards. I got out there around 10.30 even though it doesn't happen until 11.30. So 11.45 rolls around and still no change. The MASSIVE crowd is beginning to clear out so I asked someone about it. Come to find out there was no change today :( Brutal. I will give it another go on Thursday I think.

I hopped back onto the tube and went a stop over to Westminster. This is the "Wow I'm really in London" tube stop. Halfway across the Westminster Bridge you can get a photo with all of the Parliament building and Big Ben in one shot. Big Ben sounds every quarter of the hour so I didn't have to wait long to hear it chime.

Next it was into Westminster Abbey. I have been fascinated with this (probably the most recognisable church in the English speaking world) since my poetry class and after reading The Da Vinci Code (it's sad I didn't know about it until these occurrences haha).

It was around £9 to get in I believe but I was able to sneak my way in haha shhhhhh. Also, I KNOOOOW I wasn't suppose to take photos, but I have developed my discrete photo taking abilities too much in the past to let them go to waste here!!

Being in the Abbey is a very humbling experience. When you realize how much greatness surrounds you....Wow haha. Coronations of Kings and Queens, Princess Diana's Funeral (along with those of many other highly recognizable figures), etc. The memorials of the Kings' and Queens' tombs are very elaborate as well. Breathtakingly so at times. Also, I got to see the coronation char that has been used for ages!

I spent a couple hours here. The audio guide helped and was free of charge once you were in the door :P

After the Abbey I headed down the road to Trafalgar Square. I couldn't pass up the free admission to the National Gallery. Van Gogh, Money, Caravaggio, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli...AAAAH!! I don't know a whole lot about art, but I know enough to know when I am in the presence of greatness! Again, the no photo rule was worked around haha. Again, a very humbling experience.

After walking around the Square a bit more I headed over to the Tower of London. I didn't go in here because it was around £15. Plus, pictures weren't allowed here EITHER, and if these Crown Jewels are anything like the Scottish ones in Edinburgh Castle, there is no WAY I was getting around that... flash or no flash haha. I also got to see the Tower Bridge at this stop. It seems more impressive than the photos I have seen suggested. Maybe it was just my imagination.

I am fairly sure my chunnel to Paris leaves from King's Cross, but in the even that I am wrong I stopped there really quickly before heading back to the hostel. I couldn't miss a HP photo op. You should know that by now lol! Unfortunately, I must REALLY be a Muggle because I couldn't seem to get through to platform 9 3/4.

Tomorrow I am off to do a day tour from London. That's all I'll say for now. If you want to be surprised, don't look at my itinerary haha.

All together, a very tiring, but also very efficient day. I am glad I get to kick back on a big bus tomorrow haha. Let them do the thinking and traveling for a change.

Until then,
Cheers from London